- Born
- Birth nameJohn Richard Schneider
- Nickname
- Schneidy
- Height6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
- John Richard Schneider IV was born April 8, 1960, in Mt. Kisco, New York, to Shirley and John Richard "Jack" Schneider III, a pilot and U.S. Air Force veteran. His parents divorced when he was two. John began acting at the age of eight. He was in many plays in New York City. He and his mother moved to Atlanta, Georgia, when he was fourteen. He got involved in the local theater and was in many local productions. He had a small part in Smokey and the Bandit (1977) starring Burt Reynolds.
His big break came when he won the role of Bo Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) on CBS from 1979-1985. He auditioned for the role pretending he was a genuine country boy. He had a weeks growth of beard and held a beer can claiming he was from Snellville, Georgia. He later became a very successful country singer and had several hit songs including "I've Been Around Enough To Know" and "Country Girls." He has since opened Faith Works Productions in San Antonio, Texas. He also appears in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993) as Daniel Simon/Red McCall.
- IMDb mini biography by: Stacey Sanders <tsanders@comsource.net>
- SpousesDee Dee Schneider(July 23, 2024 - present)Alicia Allain(September 25, 2019 - February 21, 2023) (her death)Elly Castle(July 11, 1993 - August 20, 2019) (divorced, 3 children)Tawny Little(July 16, 1983 - March 27, 1986) (divorced)
- Children
- Lied about his age, and his birthplace, to get the role of "Bo" on The Dukes of Hazzard (1979). The producers were looking for somebody in his mid-twenties, from Georgia; Schneider was 18, and from New York.
- According to a Season 1 commentary of Smallville (2001), John was approached by some kids who said, "Hey, you're Jonathan Kent!" To his relief, it was the first time that he was recognized as someone else other than "Bo" from The Dukes of Hazzard (1979).
- Has restored many General Lee look-alike Dodge Chargers.
- Co-founder, with Marie Osmond, of the Children's Miracle Network charity organization in 1983. The organization helps children by raising funds for children's hospitals around the United States.
- Races cars every May in the Silver State Classic Challenge held in Ely, Nevada. He races and is driver of a model of the General Lee with fellow actor friend, Jim Caviezel, who is the navigator.
- When The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) was at its peak, Tom Wopat and I knew how The Beatles must have felt in Help! (1965), having an army of love-crazed girls chase you. The trick is slowing down just enough for those young ladies to catch you.
- [on Kevin Costner's portrayal of Jonathan Kent in Man of Steel (2013)] I don't think the one in 'Man of Steel' was a great father. He had some flaws that don't belong in a comic book. I really had wished that had been me."
- [When James Best told him to play whatever role Schneider wanted]: Jimmie told me to play it as if I was Burt Reynolds, in 1982. So, one of the 1st things I did at the bar, over there, yesterday, to make that happen for Jimmie was ... I looked at somebody and aww ...
- [Of James Best]: He was amazing in everything he did; he was not just a funny guy. In fact, I think the comedic timing kind of came to him later on in life because before that he was a very serious actor. I was very fortunate to have grown up working with people like Jimmie Best and Denver Pyle and Sorrell Booke. Incredibly talented men, incredibly talented actors.
- [on his on- and off-screen chemistry with James Best, who played Sheriff P. Coltrane]: I was kind of right. there were three movie stars in there. A driver opened the door and out stepped James Best and Sorrel Booke. I knew them all from their movies and television. Jimmy especially because he'd just starred with Burt Reynolds in Hooper (1978). This was huge! We said a quick hello and then posed for another photo that's been under my pen for over three decades.
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